Senate Fails To End Second Longest Shutdown In History As Democrats Withhold Votes
By Andi Shae Napier
Published on March 20, 2026.
The Senate failed to end the partial government shutdown, marking the second time in less than a year that Democrats have withheld votes to reopen the government due to a policy dispute. The Senate fell short of the 60-vote threshold in a 47-37 vote, leaving Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees without pay during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to cross the aisle in favor of reopening the government. The standoff has also affected other DHS agencies such as the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The White House has made some serious offers in response to Democrats' demands, but negotiations remain at a standstill.
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